ORLANDO, Fla. – Harris Rosen, the former Disney executive who created a hotel empire in Orlando and gave millions to help lift people out of poverty, has died.
Rosen died Monday morning at the age of 85, according to a statement from Frank Santos, vice president of Rosen Hotels and Resorts.
“Harris was an angel to so many here on earth, and now he takes his place among the angels in heaven. A beloved father, grandfather, and a pillar of our community, his boundless generosity and love touched countless lives through his unwavering commitment to helping underserved communities, promoting education, advancing the fight against cancer, and supporting health and wellness initiatives,” Santos said.
Rosen was born in New York City and worked for several hotels when he joined Disney in 1968 as director of hotel planning for Walt Disney World in Orlando. He was involved in the development of the Contemporary Resort, Polynesian Village Hotel, and the Fort Wilderness campground.
Rosen bought his first hotel on International Drive in 1974, gradually building a hotel empire that includes seven locations in the tourist area, including the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, the Rosen Centre and the Rosen Plaza.
“As founding father of the International Drive Resort Area Chamber, I had the honor to work with Mr. Rosen for over 30 amazing years,” said Maria Triscar, president and CEO of the International Drive Resort Area Chamber of Commerce. “His incredible vision and leadership was a major force in the tremendous success of the International Drive Resort Area and our tourism industry. His generous heart and philanthropic work had a monumental impact on the thousands of lives in the Central Florida community.”
Rosen was also well-known in the community for his philanthropic work, with scholarships, health and wellness facilities, and cancer research. It included the Tangelo Park Program, which offers classes, preschool, and mentoring programs, as well as scholarships for Tangelo Park children who graduate from high school and go on to further their education. He started a similar program for children in the Parramore neighborhood.
This past year alone he gave out nearly five dozen scholarships to graduates of Jones High School and Dr. Phillips High School.
He also helped establish the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at UCF to train the next generation of hospitality and tourism leaders.
The death of Rosen’s son, Adam, of brain cancer at 26, Rosen established the Adam Michael Rosen Foundation to advance research and also help families and survivors.
He helped Central Floridians in small ways too.
When Ericka Dunlap won Miss Florida, she said Rosen helped her as she prepared for the next step — the Miss America competition in 2004.
“He arranged to have a car available to me so that throughout the year I wouldn’t have to worry about paying for a car, paying for the insurance or taking care, of any of those responsibilities. And he just took that load off. and then two months later, I won Miss America. And so I didn’t need the car anymore,” Dunlap said.
Rosen joined Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden to talk about his life and work on Florida’s Fourth Estate a few years ago.
This is a developing story. Check back for more.
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